Building more sustainably? Wood can be a solution.

This article was previously published on NAPnieuws.

Over the next decade, the city of Amsterdam aims to build twenty thousand homes while staying within sustainability boundaries. It's a tough challenge; the construction sector is one of the most polluting industries globally. However, according to Joke Dufourmont, an expert in circular economy, timber construction could align sustainability with housing needs.

Dufourmont closely monitors developments in the construction industry for the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions. While concrete and steel remain the predominant building materials, she observes an increasing number of architects, developers, and contractors in Amsterdam opting for wood. For instance, in 2022, a 73-meter-high residential tower emerged in the Amstelkwartier. Additionally, 304 predominantly wooden homes are under construction in Zuidoost. The Amsterdam metropolitan region has expressed the ambition to transition to 20 percent wood construction in the near future.

Dufourmont explains, "Since the introduction of solid wood systems, it's technically feasible to construct large buildings with wood. Boards are cross-laminated, providing immense strength. This production process emits far fewer emissions than steel and concrete. Moreover, wood absorbs CO2 from the air during growth. As long as it remains in a fixed form, such as in a house, that CO2 is stored. If the house needs to be demolished, the wood can be easily dismantled for reuse, allowing for long-term carbon sequestration."

Won't widespread adoption lead to deforestation?
"Not necessarily. The wood used must come from sustainably managed forests. This means gradually harvesting without clearcutting and replanting trees, preferably multiple trees for each one harvested. This approach even yields additional climate benefits since these new trees also sequester CO2."

Sounds complicated.
"It's indeed complex and requires tailored solutions, but almost all the wood currently used for construction in the Netherlands comes from sustainable forestry."

What about the cost? Research indicates that material costs for timber construction are around 10 percent higher overall
"There's much debate about these additional costs. Proponents of wood argue that it doesn't have to be that way. As the entire supply chain—processors, architects, and contractors—becomes more accustomed to wood, costs will decrease further. Moreover, the climate costs of concrete and steel aren't factored into the financial equation. If a carbon tax is implemented, wood could even be cheaper than steel and concrete. Furthermore, there's already demand for wooden homes. Consumer surveys show that a third of home seekers are open to the idea of a wooden home."

The same research highlighted a major concern: is it fire-safe?
"Yes, many people wonder about that. Sometimes, they even refer to the great city fires of the fifteenth century. While it's true that wood is a combustible material, there are numerous ways to enhance fire safety. You can use fire-resistant coatings or plasterboards, and design the building to prevent the spread of fire. The notion that wooden homes aren't safe is one of many myths surrounding timber construction."

What other myths exist?
"Such as the belief that wooden homes won't last long or that they're only for the wealthy. Currently, wooden social housing is being built in Amsterdam. If myths like these are dispelled, I expect the demand for timber construction to increase even further."

So, what's holding us back?
"Much of it ultimately boils down to regulations and norms, especially regarding sustainability requirements for large buildings. Currently, the calculation favors materials other than wood. CO2 sequestration isn't taken into account. Other countries like France do consider it. Last summer, the Dutch government decided not to correct these flaws. As in any sector, there are vested interests resistant to change and reluctant to see transformation happen quickly or at all. But if we aim for a circular and clean economy, wood is ultimately inevitable."